Zen Cupcake blogs passionately about the world of cupcakes.

DIY cupcake crafts: How to Make a Cupcake Pincushion

This crocheted confection makes a fun gift for a friend who likes needlework — or anyone who loves cupcakes

This crocheted confection makes a fun gift for a friend who likes needlework — or anyone who loves cupcakes

Materials:

Approximately 15 yards sport-weight yarn for the bottom and 15 yards worsted-weight yarn for the top

Size F (3.75mm) crochet hook

Split-ring marker or safety pin

Yarn needle

Approximately 20 seed beads (available at general craft and bead stores)

Small sewing needle thin enough to pass through holes in seed beads

Sewing thread

About 1/3 cup light-colored, medium-sized dried beans, such as soybeans

Handful of cotton or synthetic fiber stuffing

Gauge:The first 2 rounds of the pattern=1.5 inches

Make Cupcake Bottom:

Rounds 1-3 of the circle base:1. Begin with a foundation row of two chain stitches. Skip over the first chain stitch next to the hook and put your hook through the second chain stitch. Continue with steps for making a single crochet stitch.

2. Make five more single crochet stitches into the same chain stitch until you have a total of six stitches. As you make the second stitch, move the tail over to the right side of the hook, so that the slipknot gets caught under the working yarn as you wrap it from front to back. After each stitch, pull on the tail a little to keep the center from opening up too much. When you’ve completed six stitches, hold the center of the circle in between your thumb and index finger, and pull the tail firmly to tighten the center. If you have trouble tightening the center, start over from the beginning and make sure the slipknot gets caught under the stitches by the second or third stitch.

3. Before beginning the next round, place a split-ring stitch marker or safety pin in the last stitch of the previous round. Pass the pointed end of the marker through the two loops on the front of the stitch. (Moving the marker to the last stitch at the end of each round will help you keep track of where each new round should begin and end.) Now put your hook under both loops on the top of the first stitch of round 1 and proceed with steps for making a single crochet stitch.

4. Increase round 1 by making another single crochet stitch in the same stitch. You should now have two single crochet stitches in the same stitch.

5. Continue, making an increase in each of the remaining five stitches in the first round, until you have a total of 12 stitches. Remember to always move the marker to the last stitch of each round.

6. For the third round, make an increase in every other stitch. To do this, *single crochet once in the first stitch and then make an increase by making two single crochet stitches in the next stitch.* Repeat the instructions between the asterisks five more times. This will bring you to the end of the round, and you will have a total of 18 stitches. (Make sure your gauge is correct for this pattern and move the marker to the last stitch. This project will work if you don’t match your gauge exactly, but you should make sure that your crocheted fabric isn’t too loose; if it is, the stuffing may stick out between the stitches. Basically, the tighter the stitches are together, the better).

Round 4:*Single crochet in the next two stitches, then make an increase by making two single crochet stitches in the third stitch.* Repeat the instruction between the asterisks five more times. This will bring you to the end of the round, and you will have a total of 24 stitches.

Round 5:Begin working the back loops only of each stitch. *Single crochet in the next two stitches, then make a decrease by single crocheting two stitches together.* Repeat the instructions between the asterisks five more times. This will bring you to the end of the round, and you will have a total of 18 stitches.

Round 6:Resume working in both loops of each stitch for the remainder of the pattern. Repeat round 4. You will have a total of 24 stitches.

Round 7:*Single crochet in the next three stitches, then make an increase in the fourth stitch.* Repeat the instructions in between the asterisks 5 more times. This will bring you to the end of the round, and you will have a total of 30 stitches.

Round 8:Single crochet for four rounds without making any increases. To help keep track of what round you are on, write down the numbers 1 through 4 on a piece of paper and check off the number for each round as you complete it. End off, leaving about a 10-inch tail.

Make Icing Top:1. Repeat instructions for making the bottom, up to round 4, then single crochet for four rounds without making any increases.

2. To create the scalloped edge: *Make three single crochet stitches in the next stitch. Then skip over the second stitch and make a slipstitch in the third stitch.* Repeat the instruction between the asterisks nine more times. End off and weave the tail in on the wrong side.

Assemble and Decorate Cupcake:1. Place the icing top piece over the bottom piece, lining up the stitches on the top edge of the bottom with the inside of the scalloped edge of the top. Then thread the tail from the bottom piece with a yarn needle and stitch the two pieces together with the woven stitch. Stop stitching halfway around and fill up the bottom with beans. Then fill the top with some stuffing and continue stitching the two pieces together. When you are done, knot and push the needle through the cupcake to the other side. Cut the remaining tail.

2. Decorate your cupcake with a sprinkling of seed beads. Get your thread and needle started as you would for sewing on a button. Remember that you will need to work with a sewing needle that is thin enough to pass through the hole in your beads. One at a time, sew on each bead as follows: Pass the bead over the tip of the needle and bring it down to where the thread is attached to the cupcake. Then hold the bead in place with your index finger and put your needle into the cupcake right next to the bead and bring the needle back up at the point where you want the next bead to be. When you are done attaching all of the beads, knot the thread and push the needle through the cupcake to the other side. Cut the remaining thread.